胆振地區的地震 / An earthquake in Iburi District

9月6日發生了震央在胆振地區的地震。在安平町、厚真町發生了土石坍方，約40人不幸犧牲了。札幌市的一部分住宅區出現了房子傾斜等災害。地震後全北海道立刻停電，6日、7日的日常生活變得很不方便。札幌市中心，以及其他地區已經陸陸續續恢復正常的生活，請諸位放心。

Hokkaido was shaken by a large earthquake at 3:08 a.m. on September 6th. The epicenter was at a depth of 45kms below the Iburi District. Abira Town and Atsuma Town, being near the epicenter, bore the brunt of the earthquake. Following landslides from waterlogged mountainsides, houses were destroyed and in the vicinity of 40 people lost their lives. Parts of residential Sapporo experienced liquefaction, and some houses were knocked off their piles. After the earthquake, almost the entire island of Hokkaido was without power. The inconvenience of daily life, with closed shops and supermarkets and transportation out of service was felt on 6th and 7th. However, inconveniences and disruptions have been remedied somewhat since September 9th.

南瓜 / Pumpkins

在北海道各處都有種植觀賞用的南瓜，9月初就可以採收。會裝飾在道路休息站等人們聚集的地方。9月開始會漸漸地在各處都看得到觀賞用南瓜，帶動10月底的萬聖節氣氛。除了有普遍常見的橘黃色的南瓜，也有可以放在掌心上的10種南瓜。

Pumpkins have recently become very popular for decorations, and are grown in various areas of Hokkaido. They are harvested from the beginning of September. Places where people congregate, such as road stations or local markets, create seasonal decorations with them. They give people the feeling that the end of October and Halloween is coming soon. Orange colored pumpkins are typical but their sizes differ. A huge pumpkin can stand more than one meter high. Around ten kinds of decorative pumpkins are grown and seen at shops. They are not only orange, but a variety of kinds. Some are small enough to fit in your hand.

Kuromatsunai

KUROMATSUNAI（位於黑松內町）是在國道5號沿線上的道路休息站，位置大約是在札幌和函館的正中間。這裡有披薩專賣店，著名菜單是使用北海道產小麥的各種披薩。商店的起司、小香腸、火腿也是熱門商品。此外，也有麵包店。是有充實的「食」的道路休息站。黑松內是天然山毛櫸樹生長的北界。也有販賣使用山毛櫸木材製作的餐具。

Kuromatsunai (Kuromatsunai Town) is a road station on route 5 almost halfway between Sapporo and Hakodate. This road station houses an authentic pizza restaurant, serving their speciality pizzas containing local ingredients and flour produced in Hokkaido. They sell cheese, sausages and ham made in the town too. With a popular bakery onsite also, this road station has a definite focus on food. As Kuromatsunai has the northernmost natural forests of Japanese beech trees in Japan, tableware products such as spoons, forks and eating plates using wood of the beech are sold.

北海道黎明之塔 / Hokkaido Yoake-no Tou

北海道黎明之塔（位於上之國町）高度為24m。是可以瞭望日本海的小鎮的象徵。這裡有依照冬至、春分和秋分、夏至當天的日出方向所建造的三條道路的廣場。1988年因紀念小鎮開拓滿800年所建造的（據說是首次有人從本州移住到這裡的土地）。網狀圖案的外牆，被這個地區特有的強風吹到後會發出聲音。

Hokkaido Yoake-no Tou (Kaminokuni Town) is a 24-meter tall tower which stands atop a prominent hill. From the site of the tower visitors can admire a panoramic view of the Sea of Japan. Yoake-no Tou literally means ‘tower of dawn’ in Japanese. The name implies that Kaminokuni was the first place to which people from Honshu arrived and inhabited. The tower was built in 1988 to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the arrival. Three paths are in front of the tower. The directions of the paths indicate the paths of the sunrises on the summer and winter solstices, and the spring/autumn equinoxes. The mesh design of the tower creates a unique sound when the wind blows through it.

春採湖 / Lake Harutori

春採湖（位於釧路市）是位在住宅區內的湖泊，範圍約4.7km。湖泊水深約5km，以天然紀念物-緋鯽魚的棲息地而為人所知。可以看到連接河川與海洋的鹹水湖獨特的生態系。此外，有130種以上的鳥類棲息在這裡。湖畔旁邊也有設置觀察野鳥的小屋。大概是從12月到4月之間湖面會結冰。

Lake Harutori (Kushiro City) is unique in that it is surrounded by a residential area of the city. It’s 4.7 kilometers around and the average depth is 5 meters. The lake is known as a spot where the Hibuna (common goldfish in English) live. As it’s connected to the sea via a small river, it’s a brackish-water lake. There are many creatures in the lake, and more than 130 kinds of birds visit over the year. There are huts to enjoy bird-watching. Usually, the surface of the lake freezes over from December to April. The state of the water in the lake had deteriorated, and a program to return it to it’s original, clean state was begun 20 years ago.

弁慶岬 / Cape Benkei

弁慶岬（位於寿都町）面向日本海。弁慶是12世紀登場的有名武將。晚年的經歷周遭充滿了謎團，有傳說戰敗的弁慶最終輾轉來到北海道。此外，阿伊努的故事中有從本州來的本領高超的武將到訪到這個海岬的傳說。此後這裡被取名為弁慶岬。海岬的前端設有弁慶的雕像。

Cape Benkei (Suttsu Town) faces the Sea of Japan and it features a small park. Benkei was a famous warrior in the 12th century. The latter period of his life is mysterious and some legendary stories remain. One of them is that he fled to Hokkaido from Honshu soon after losing his last fight. On the other hand, the Ainu have a different old story, that a powerful warrior arrived at this cape and waited for his surviving boss. Because of these two stories, this cape was named Cape Benkei. A statue of Benkei has been erected.

Rankoshi·故鄉之丘 / Rankoshi Furusato-no Oka

Rankoshi·故鄉之丘（位於蘭越町）是位在國道5號的道路休息站，在函館與札幌間約是中間的位置上。是可以瞭望二世古連峰和羊蹄山的小型道路休息站。特別致力於蘭越町產的農產加工品。醃漬物很有名，連哈密瓜的醃漬物都有。冰淇淋工廠就在旁邊，霜淇淋是人氣商品。內側有露營場。

Rankoshi Furusato-no Oka (Rankoshi Town) is a road station on route 5. This road station is small, but is a good spot to take a rest for tourists traveling by car, because it’s located almost halfway between Sapporo and Hakodate. People can see both the Niseko Mountains and Mt. Yotei. It houses a small shop selling local products. Their pickles are well-known, and some unique products, such as pickled melon, are sold. Melon is one of Rankoshi’s signature products. An ice cream maker is next to this road station, and soft ice cream is popular among visitors. There is a camping site behind the building.

波斯菊花 / Cosmos flowers

北海道的賞花信息「」
在札幌的波斯菊最佳觀賞時機是在8月下旬到9月中旬。在札幌市內的各處公園都可以看得到。其中又以札幌市南區的滝野鈴蘭丘陵公園中有26萬朵的波斯菊。鄂霍次克地區的Engaru公園（位於遠軽町）有多達1000萬朵的波斯菊盛開，最佳觀賞時期是從9到10月初。是日本最大規模的波斯菊花園。

Hokkaido Flower Information
Cosmos flowers

The best season for cosmos flowers in Sapporo is from the end of August to the middle of September. In Sapporo, cosmos are quite common, and can be seen here and there. However, Takino Suzuran Hillside Park is very special, consisting of 260,000 cosmos flowers. It’s the biggest cosmos field in Sapporo. Hokkaido’s Engaru Town has the biggest cosmos field in Japan, with over 10 million flowers. As Engaru Town is in the northeast of Hokkaido, the best season differs a little from Sapporo,and is from September to October. It’s an awesome sightseeing spot in Hokkaido.